Switch-stand



2 Sheets-Sheet; 1.

(No Model.)

F. W. SNOW.

SWITCH STAND.

No. 320,507. Patented June 23, 1885.

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. (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. F. W. SNOW.

SWITCH STAND.

No. 320,507. Patented June 23, 1885.

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UNITED STATI-3sy PATENT OFFICE.,

FRED. NV. SNOW, OF HILLBURN, NEV YORK.

SWITC H -STAN D.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 320,507, dated June 23, 1885` Application filed February 11, 1885. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED. W. SNOW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hillburn, county of Rockland, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Im-l provements in Switch-Stands, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to switch-stands, and has for its object to improve the construction and operation of such stands; and to this end my invention consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement set forth hereinafter.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure l is a side elevation of a stand embodying my invention, showing the handle raised ready to be turned. Fig. 2` is a similar view, partly in section, showing the position of the parts when the switch is being operated by the train, and Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line l 2.

.The frame or body A of the stand supports a block, a, which is secured to or slides in the frame of the stand, and is recessed for the passage of a target-shaft, B, which passes through a heavy weight or head-block, D, having at the lower side teeth c, with beveled sides,inter meshing with corresponding teeth,c, upon the block a.

At the upper side of the head-block D is a rectangular recess, w, shown as square in the drawings, adapted to a square projection, d, at the under side of a block, E, which slides freely upon the target-shaft, but is prevented from turning thereon either by means of a feather or by making the shaft angular in cross-section, as shown.

As a means of raising and lowering the block E, I pivot the hand-lever F to a sleeve, H, se cured to the target-shaft, and connect said lever by links G to opposite sides of the block E, which will therefore rise when the lever is lifted and descend when the lever is depressed.

The target-shaft is provided at the lower end with the usual crank, C, adapted for connection with the rod extending to the switch, and a spring, f, coiled around the target-shaft, bears at the upper end against the block a and at the lower end against the collar i upon the shaft, and tends to raise the former.

When the switch-rails are to be set to adif-l ferent position from any which they may occupy,the hand-lever F is raised until the projection d of the block E is removed from the recess w, when the target-shaft may be turned by means of the lever so as to set the switchrails in the desired new position, in which they will be secured by depressing the hand-lever until the block E is in contact with the headblock D. So long as the parts occupy the position last described the switch-rails will be 6o held in place, because the head-block is prevented, by the interlocking of the teeth c e, from rotating, and the shaft B cannot be turned without also turning the block E, which can have no rotation independent of the head- 6 5 block D while the projection dis in the recess x. While the switch-rails are thus prevented from moving under any ordinary circumstances,they are protected against destructive action by the capacity of the block ato be de- 7o pressed when sufficient force is applied to the crank to cause the teeth c to slide upon and ride over the teeth e. Thus when` excessive pressure is brought upon the switch-rails the thrust upon the crank G will tend to turn the shaft B, and with it the head-block D, and to cause the faces of the teeth c to bear upon those of the teeth e, so that the upper teeth will slide upon and over the lower teeth, forcing the block a downward against the spring, 8o thereby permitting the rails to move without breaking. At the same time the tendency of the spring f to hold the block a in its highest position is so great that this yielding action cannot result except under extraordinary cir- 8 5 cumstances.

While I have described the projection d and recess m as being rectangular, the sectional forms thereof will depend upon the number of `positions to which the switch-rails are to be 9o said block. Thus I provide the block with a roo number of pairs of radiating ears, s, corresponding to the number of sides to the projection d, each pair of ears having a perforation, 'z for the passage of the keeper of a padlock, so that the lever cannot be raised from contact with the ears while the lock is in position.

I claiml. The combination, in a switch-stand, of a frame, A, provided with a sliding block, a, or portion having beveled teeth e, a targetshaft having a crank at the lower end, extending through the block and carrying a sliding head, E, with an'angular projection, d, at the lower side, and means for adjusting the said head vertically, a head-block, D, arranged above the block a, provided with corresponding teeth, and having at the upper side a recess corresponding to the projection d, all substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the stand, crankshaft, asliding and non-rotating toothed block,

a, sliding and rotating block E, and intervening head-block D, having a recessy adapted to a projection, d, of radiating ears s upon the head-block, corresponding in number to the number of sides of the projection d, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the stand A, toothed block a, crank target-shaft B, block E, having a projection d, block-operating lever F, connected to the block E, head-block D, having teeth at the under side and provided with a recess adapted to receive the projection d, and with ears s, all substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRED. WV. SNOW.

Witnesses:

JNO. D. SU'FFERN, A. W. WRIGHT. 

